A court has sentenced an Airtel Uganda SIM card registration agent, Patrick Wanyera, to one year in prison or a fine of UGX 500,000 after he was found guilty of violating Uganda’s SIM card registration regulations.
Patrick Wanyera, was found to have registered a subscriber outside an authorised SIM card registration point, signed the registration form on behalf of the customer, and issued the SIM card in breach of Regulation 28 of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Regulations, 2024.
According to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the illegally registered SIM card was later used to defraud a student through a bogus scholarship scheme.
The Commission said the case highlights the dangers of bypassing SIM card registration procedures, warning that irregular registrations create opportunities for fraud, identity theft, financial crimes, and other criminal activities.
UCC reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the country’s SIM card registration framework to promote trust, security, and accountability within Uganda’s digital communications sector.
The regulator also revealed that it is increasing oversight of telecommunications companies to ensure they properly supervise their employees, agents, and third-party registration outlets.
Under Regulation 27 of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Regulations, 2024, telecommunications operators may face penalties of up to UGX 5 million for irregular SIM card registration.
UCC has urged all SIM card registration agents to strictly follow the law and reminded the public to register SIM cards only at authorised registration centres using their own valid identification documents.
The Commission says proper SIM card registration remains critical in protecting consumers and supporting Uganda’s digital transformation agenda.
